PSG vs. Montpellier: Team News, Preview, Live Stream and TV Info
Paris Saint-Germain take on Montpellier HSC on Saturday afternoon as they try to not lose back-to-back league games for the first time since 2011.
Lyon’s 2-1 victory last weekend over the Ligue 1 champions stopped PSG’s unbeaten run and ended their hope of beating FC Nantes’ 1995 record. Now, Laurent Blanc and his team need to refocus and look towards building a new run and regaining form before their Champions League clash with Chelsea.
Wednesday’s win over Saint-Etienne in the Coupe de France is just the start, and Montpellier, although on a good run of form, shouldn’t have enough to shock the Parisians.
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Frederic Hantz’s team have won three games in a row in Ligue 1, scoring eight goals in the process. They are full of confidence, playing well and they are unlucky to be facing the champions-elect at this stage. They may be 14th in the league, but they are only seven points off both the relegation and the Champions League positions.
Date: Saturday, March 5, 2016
Time: 4 p.m. BST (11 a.m ET)
Venue: Parc des Princes
TV Info: Canal Plus (France), beIN Sport (US)
Live Stream: beIN Sport Connect (US)
Last five results:
| W Saint-Etienne 1-3 PSG (Coupe de France) | W Montpellier 3-0 Lille (Ligue 1) |
| L Lyon 2-1 PSG (Ligue 1) | W Angers 2-3 Montpellier (Ligue 1) |
| W PSG 4-1 Reims (Ligue 1) | W Montpellier 2-0 Toulouse (Ligue 1) |
| W PSG 2-1 Chelsea (Champions League) | D Lorient 1-1 Montpellier (Ligue 1) |
| D PSG 1-1 Lille (Ligue 1) | L Montpellier 0-1 Marseille (Ligue 1) |
Blaise Matuidi is an injury doubt for PSG on Saturday. Laurent Blanc has confirmed (in French) he will do everything he can to get the midfielder fit for the Chelsea match, but he will likely be rested against Montpellier.
Blanc will have to pick between Gregory van der Wiel and Marquinhos for the right-back spot, with the Dutchman offering more of an attacking option.
Marco Verratti is still an injury doubt, and with Chelsea coming up, Javier Pastore could continue in the starting lineup. Blanc also confirmed on Friday (in French) that Angel Di Maria should be able to start the game.
Predicted Formation:
PSG (4-3-3): Kevin Trapp; Gregory van der Wiel, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Layvin Kurzawa; Thiago Motta, Javier Pastore, Adrien Rabiot; Javier Pastore, Lucas Moura, Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Hantz will be without (in French) Souleymane Camara and Jamel Saihi for Saturday's game. Camara missed the 3-0 win over Lille, but he had scored two and added two assists in the wins over Toulouse and Angers.
Montpellier have been playing 4-4-2 with a midfield diamond as part of their recent success. That should continue in their absence, with Joris Marveaux or William Remy playing at the base. Kevin Berigaud should partner Mustapha Yatabare upfront.
Predicted Formation:
Montpellier (4-4-2): Laurent Pionnier; William Remy, Hilton, Daniel Congre, Jerome Roussillon; Joris Marveaux, Bryan Dabo, Jonas Martin, Ryad Boudebouz; Kevin Berigaud, Mustapha Yatabare
Player to Watch
One of Hantz’s greatest successes so far this season has been the change in fortunes of former Blackburn Rovers midfielder Bryan Dabo.
The 24-year-old has been a revelation of late, scoring four times, including against Lille last weekend. Under previous coaches, Dabo has played in a number of positions, but it’s in this new diamond midfield that he has really flourished.
Dabo is a force of nature: quick, strong and, similar to Matuidi, he can run for days and days. The perfect weapon when you are playing against a team like PSG.
Key Battle
Too many teams arrive in Paris with no intention of playing their game against the champions. Some clubs even give up the ghost and don’t look to give 100 percent at the Parc des Princes.
If Montpellier are to have any chance of a result on Saturday, the best way to play is with the diamond midfield and, most importantly, two upfront.
All too often, Ligue 1 defences, especially PSG, don’t have to deal with two strikers, making it easy to cover the one target man. Both David Luiz and Thiago Silva struggled when put under pressure from Lyon’s front line. Rather than play it safe and allow the Brazilians to sail through the game, Hantz should go bold and take the game to the hosts.
Everyone expects PSG to win no matter who Montpellier send out on to the field, so why not take a risk.
Odds (via OddShark)
Home: 20/87
Away: 316/25
Draw: 483/100
